More than 27,000 jobs could be created in the European Union through the elimination of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, according to research the Pew Environment Group released yesterday.
"This research clearly shows that the current levels of IUU fishing in EU-member states has significant economic, social and environmental costs which limit the potential of the fishing sector," says Markus Knigge, research director of Pew's European Marine Program. "Member states could realize this potential, but only if they counter IUU fishing through enforcing existing measures and by supporting the swift introduction of stringent controls and enforcement."
The research was administered by Pew and conducted by the environmental economics consultancy firm Eftec.
Pew called on the EU to introduce meaningful sanctions for non-compliance; vessel monitoring systems on all fishing vessels; independent observers and/or cameras onboard for fisheries with a consistent record of infringements, such as bluefin tuna; central computerized repositories for all information relating to fisheries offenses and their perpetrators; and suspension of aid to a fishery if a member state fails to comply with regulations.
"The principal finding from the research is that there are two possible futures for EU fishing," says Knigge. "If IUU fishing continues, fish stocks will continue to decline and not recover from the current depleted levels. However, if IUU fishing is stopped with sound management measures, fisheries could be restored to viable levels within a short period of time for most commercial species."
